READER PANEL

PROFILE

Lynn Herring

ON SOAP OPERA DIGEST AND WEEKLY ONLINE

SOAP STAR STATS

Lynn Herring (Audrey, ATWT)

— JPI

Vital Statistics

Birthday:: September 22
Hails From:: Enid, OK and Fairfax, VA
Marital Status:: Married to Wayne Northrop (ex-Roman/Alex, DAYS, et al) since May 9, 1981.
Children:: They have two sons, Hank, born in 1991, and Grady, born in 1993.
Years On Show:: 2009-present
Awards:: Won Soap Opera Digest Awards for Outstanding Villainess in 1989, 1991 and 1992; won Digest Awards for Hottest Female Star in 1996 and Outstanding Lead Actress in 1999. Was nominated for Daytime Emmy Awards for Supporting Actress in 1990 and 1992.

The 411

Enid, Oklahoma native Lynn Herring spent her childhood living all over the country since her father was an Air Force pilot. When she was a teen, her family ended up in Fairfax, Virginia, and she entered the Miss Virginia Teenage Pageant. She was shocked when she won, but decided to use the prize money for college.

After graduating from high school, she attended Louisiana State University, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in psychology. After, she pursued modeling in New York, then moved to Los Angeles to try for an acting career.

In the early '80s, she landed a string of guest-starring roles on prime-time series, including HOTEL and T.J. HOOKER. Meanwhile, she met Wayne Northrop in an acting class. They wed in 1981.

In 1986, she joined GH as the mousy librarian-turned-maneater Lucy Coe. In 1989, she earned her first Digest Award, followed by two more in 1991 and 1992. She gave birth to her and Northrop's first son, Hank, in 1991.

In 1992, she left the show for a few months to play DAYS's Lisanne, but then returned to GH that November. In 1993, son Grady was born.

Herring stayed with GH until 1996; during that time, she continued to be a fan favorite, especially as her character organized the show's annual Nurses' Ball (in which she always ended up in her underwear!). In 1997 ABC introduced a GH spinoff, PORT CHARLES, which she, along with GH's Jon Lindstrom (Kevin) and Kin Shriner (Scott), joined.

On PC, Herring was the show's leading lay and remained there for its six-year run. After PC ended in 2003, she took a break from acting and enjoyed life on her family's California ranch.

This year, however, ATWT invited her to play Audrey, the mother of Henry (Trent Dawson). Given her comedic talents, Herring was a perfect match for the quirky Dawson. She was also reunited with PC alumni Lindstrom (Craig), Julie Pinson (Janet; ex-Eve) and Marie Wilson (Meg; ex-Karen), as well as her one-time GH hubby, Stuart Damon (Ralph; ex-Alan). As for her own work, she was immediately thrown into a juicy storyline when it was revealed that Henry's father is the evil James Stenbeck!

Et Cetera

— Herring is of Albanian and British descent.
— In the 1986 CIRCUS OF THE STARS, she performed a high-wire act.
— In 1977, was runner-up in the Miss U.S.A. competition.
— Tested for the role of Kelly on SANTA BARBARA
— Her birth name is Sheryl Lynn Herring.

Career Highlights

Other Soap Roles
PORT CHARLES (Lucy Coe, 1997-2003)
GENERAL HOSPITAL (Lucy Coe, 1986-1992; 1992-97)
DAYS OF OUR LIVES (Lisanne Gardner, 1992)

TV Roles
L.A. LAW (Jessica Teicher, 1987)
THE COLBYS (Lena, 1986)
FINDER OF LOST LOVES .... (Waitress at Club, 1985)
RIPTIDE (Lizzie Jacks, 1984)
T.J. HOOKER (Simone, 1984)
AIRWOLF (Laurie, 1984)
HOTEL (Carol, 1984)
JESSIE (Renee, 1984)
GONE ARE THE DAYES (Girl #2, 1984)
MIKE HAMMER (Georgette, 1984)
CUTTER TO HOUSTON (Red, 1983)
MATT HOUSTON (Waitress, 1983/Cheerleader, 1982)
TUCKER'S WITCH (Linda Dawn, 1983)
QUINCY M.E. (Stewardess Elaine Collier, 1981)

Film Roles
Pandemonium ('60s Cheerleader,1982)
Roller Boogie (Featured Skater, 1979)

Loquacious Lynn

"I feed the chickens, check on my dogs and cats, then I sit down with my coffee and go over the script for the day."
— On life at her ranch, Soap Opera Digest, 7/29/97

"Before, I thought that if you went from soap to soap [it meant] you didn't have aspirations to try anything else. But now, I can see the aspiration about work. The way business is today. if you can keep a steady job, more power to you."
— On playing DAYS's Lisanne, Digest, 4/28/92

"A lot of times when I would miss out on big projects, it would really freak me out. I would get so frustrated by the business side of it. I was taking things much too personally. I'd get down to being one of the top two choices for a film or a soap and then lose out. [Husband] Wayne had been around a lot longer so he could understand my feelings, but it would hurt him to see me in such distress; to be punishing myself for not getting the part."
— Digest, 12/2/86